5 reasons June is the ideal time to plan decorating in London

01 | The light is better for choosing colours

With the earth orbiting closer to the sun making it higher in the sky, June daylight is ideal for choosing paint colours. The pigment will resonate more clearly and ‘truthfully’.

Pro-tip: don’t paint samples straight onto a wall. The colour will be impacted by whatever is underneath, and the hue will be different on different walls of the room according to the direction the light comes in and the way it reflects inside the room. (Plus you just gave your decorator another job to do to remove them later.)

Instead paint onto A4 sheets of paper, and Blu-tac them on different walls at different times of day to fully understand how the colour will look in a more dynamic way. Move them around and leave them up for a day or two before making your final decision.

02 | Longer days

With June giving us the longest daylight hours of the year, it’s the ideal month to have a decorator working for you. They will be able to start early in the day, giving you time to talk to them before leaving for work. And if they choose too they can work late. Net gain: the work is finished in fewer days. Potentially something both you and the contractor will be pleased about.

Pro-tip: ask your decorator to quote for completing the job, not by the day. Make sure they have included everything in the price such as cost of paint, prep, and making good any areas that need repair, and any parking. Be a good employer: don’t add extra actions to his list at the last minute and expect the final price to stay the same.

03 | Drying time

An aspect of decorating many overlook is the drying time involved. If you are plastering walls or making good specific areas which need patching or prepping, there will be layers of wet materials to apply to walls, ceilings and woodwork. With low humidity in the summer months, drying time is accelerated – windows can be kept open longer and ventilation is easier. Reduced drying time helps your project progress rapidly.

04 | It’s more likely you’ll be away

Anyone who has had even just a single room decorated will know it can be disruptive for a period of time. Furniture has to be moved or covered, belongings put away and the space is out of action. The decorating team will be in and out with their tools and materials. The inconvenience can be a trial if your household is busy.

Much of the disruption can be avoided if you can co-ordinate the project with dates you’ll be away. And in June, there is a good chance of this. Naturally you need to be comfortable leaving your house in the hands of the contractor which means being confident you have best-in-class trades working for you. (This is where Consider it Done’s black book of contacts comes into its own.)

05 | Ventilation vs Dust

Something often overlooked is the amount of dust generated by a decorating project. The best decorators spend plenty of time prepping the walls and ceilings which is likely to involve sanding and smoothing. The dust itself is fine and pervasive, meaning it will find its way onto and into *everything*. Plus it hangs in the air for weeks afterwards, and you’ll be cleaning multiple times before its finally gone.

A good decorator will move and cover your possessions to protect them as far as possible, tape up doors and cupboards, and remove as much dust as they can.

Being able to open the windows more often and for longer in June, means some of this can be mitigated. Though be ready to bring in cleaners before you put the furniture back and be ready to re-book them again 7-10 days later after more dust has settled. If anyone in your house is sensitive to dust, the importance of this can’t be over emphasised.

Final Pro-tip: the best London decorators book up well in advance. For best outcomes plan your project early to avoid putting both yourself and your contractor under pressure.

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